Hair holding and containment device

ABSTRACT

A device for holding and protecting a person&#39;s hair comprises a body of semi-rigid material that uses a shaped body having at least one prong for receiving sands of bundled hair The body has a number of cutouts of various designs arranged in said body and the prong or prongs may be formed of various colors to have the aesthetic appearance of the device. The body may be a one piece cover or divided into halves with structure to open or close the halves.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to hair styling and control and moreparticularly to devices for holding and protecting a person's hair whilea person engages in an active lifestyle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Men and women utilize a variety of methods to hold hair in place whilethey are engaged in sports, work or other vigorous activities. Onecommon example is the use of bobby pins inserted into the hair to holdthe hair in a bun or other style. Another example is a leather straphaving two holes through which a wooden stick is inserted which is usedto hold a “pony tail” in place. Recent examples of the use of barrettesor clips which are worn in the hair to hold hair in place are disclosedin U.S. Pat. No. 5,477,870 (1995); U.S. Pat. No. 5,816,267 (1998), andU.S. Pat. No. 5,520,201 (1996). Although this is not a complete listingof devices which are designed to hold hair in place, they arerepresentative of the devices currently available to hold a persons hairin place during vigorous activities.

The problem with all of the devices which bundle the hair and then clampthe hair to keep it in place is that the balance of the hair whichextends outwardly from the clamping device and away from the head (suchas a pony tail) is free to move. This includes the use of rubber bandsor other stretchable bands of material to hold the hair. In activesports such as soccer, the free hair can interfere with a participant'splay and can become tangled with the hair of another participant. Also,during active play, the device which holds the hair may slip and allowthe hair to loosen so that a participant is forced to discontinue playand reform the hair into a bundle. On the other hand, the majority ofthe devices which securely clamp or pin the hair so that the hair cannotslip within the device are manufactured of a hard material which cancause injury during physical contact between participants during thecourse of play. Further, the use of devices such as pins or pegs to holdhair is not safe for active sports due to the possibility of pokinganother participant with a sharp object.

Thus, as will appear, the present invention fulfills a long time needfor an attractive and simple device for holding an active person's hairand completely containing and protecting the hair for the duration ofthe period of activity.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is a device which is inserted into the bundled hair of anactive person and is held in place by combs or clamping feature. Thehair which extends through the holding portion of the device is formedinto a coil or other shape and completely contained within the coverportion of the device which locks securely in a closed position. Thedevice is manufactured entirely of a semi-rigid material, withsufficient resiliency to maintain its shape, but not hard enough tocause injury to the wearer or another individual in the event it isstruck during hard play. The cover portion of the device may be formedin decorative shapes and colors. The cover portion may also includeremovable decorations. By adding a logo and color theme, members of asports team could achieve uniformity of appearance through the use ofthe device in their hair. The device is designed to be easily insertedand removed from the hair while at the same time holding and containingthe hair securely during activities.

The device may also be used to hold and contain hair as a fashionaccessory where vigorous activity is not contemplated. In thisapplication of the device, the device may be fabricated of a number ofmaterials ranging from precious metals to plastics. The material mayrange from a relatively flexible material to one that is rigid. To addto the aesthetic value of the device, the device may be configured in afreeform shape and more loosely contain the hair.

The device provides an attractive means of holding and protecting aperson's hair during sports and other activities. It is a further objectof the invention to provide an alternative styling method which isattractive and gives the hair a neat, sleek appearance. The device isespecially suited for holding long, thick and difficult to manage hair.

These and further objects, as shall hereafter appear, are readilyfulfilled by the present invention in a remarkably unexpected manner aswill be readily discerned from the following detailed description of anexemplary embodiment thereof especially when read in conjunction withthe accompanying drawings in which like parts bear like numeralsthroughout.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 depicts one embodiment of the present invention with theinvention holding a person's hair;

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the preferred embodiment of the presentinvention wherein the cover portion is split into hinged halves andbuilt-in combs are utilized to secure the device in the hair;

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of one embodiment of the present inventionwherein removable comb-like structures are utilized to secure the devicein the hair;

FIG. 4 is an isometric view of one embodiment of the present inventionwherein a U-shaped structure is utilized to secure the device in thehair;

FIG. 5 is an isometric view of the device of FIG. 2 with arrows added toindicate the movement of the device from a closed position shown to anopen position;

FIG. 6 is an isometric view of one embodiment of the present inventionwith arrows to indicate the movement of the device from an open positionshown to a closed position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A brief description of an exemplary embodiment of the present inventionis set forth herein in sufficient detail to allow a person skilled inthe art to understand the operation and fully utilize the invention. Thenumbered parts of the description refer to the parts identified in theattached figure in which the parts bear like numerals throughout theinvention.

Referring to FIG. 1, the device 10 is shown inserted into the hair 12 ofan individual 14. Note that the hair is pulled tightly against the headof an individual 14 and the balance of the hair 12 is contained withinthe the device 10.

Referring to FIG. 2, the preferred embodiment of the device is shown inwhich the device is comprised of opposing halves 16 and 18, wherein eachhalf includes semicircular flange

at one end of the body. The opposing halves have multiple prongs 24which are forced between the strands of hair to hold the device in thehair when the device 10 is moved to a closed position. In the embodimentdepicted in FIG. 2, opposing haves are rotatably connected by hinge 20.Interlocking ends 22 of opposing halves 16 and 18 secure the device whenthe device 10 is in a closed position. In the closed position of thedevice 10, the balance of the hair 12 is contained within opposinghalves 16 and 18. Multiple cutouts 26 in opposing halves 16 and 18create an artistic pattern on device 10.

Referring to FIG. 3 an alternative embodiment of the device is shown inwhich body 34 contains and protects the hair. In this embodiment thereis but one circumferential flange 13 and no opposing halves at one endof the body. Removable opposing combs 60 have multiple prongs 30 whichare inserted into holes 32 in body 34 capture the hair in the device.Opposing combs 60 nay be utilized to enhance the aesthetic appearance ofthe device by forming them of contrasting or bright colors and throughthe inclusion of artistic features on the portion of opposing combs 60which is visible outside body 34. Multiple cutouts of different shapethan cutouts 26 may be utilized to create a variety of artisticappearances for the device.

Referring to FIG. 4, an alternative embodiment of the device is shown inwhich body 61 is secured in the hair using U shaped structure 36. LikeFIG. 3, there is but one circumferential flange

except that there is a small space separating the ends of this flange.By using the spaced legs 38 of the U-shaped structure, the ends of thecircumferential flange are tied together, wherein the legs are insertedthrough holes 40 in the body 61 and engage 42 formed in the surface ofbody 61 opposite to holes 40.

Referring to FIG. 5 the preferred embodiment of the iknventikonpreviously depicted in FIG. 2, is shown with arrows included to show themovement of opposing halves 16 and 18 when the device is moved from aclosed position shown to an open position. To open the device, theinterlocking features 22 of opposing halves 16 and 18 are disengaged andopposing halves 16 and 18 are rotated about hinge 20 as shown by thearrows in open position.

Referring to FIG. 6, an alternative embodiment of the invention is shownwith arrows included to show the movement of opposing halves 16 and 18when the device is moved from an open position to a closed position. Inthe case shown, to close the device male features 62 of opposing half 16are inserted into female features 63 simultaneously at both sides andopposing halves 16 and 18 are held in the closed positions by theengagement of protrusions 64 of male features 62 with opening 65 ofopposing half 18. (Note again the semicircular flanges of FIGS. 5 and 6.Further, although it is not shown in FIG. 6, the device can be openedand closed much like the device of FIG. 5 by disengaging protrusions

4 of male feature

from opening

at a single end of opposing half 16. The device is then

ned by merely rotating opposing halves 16 and 18 to an open positionutilizing the engaged male featured

and female feature

at the opposite end of opposing half 16 as a hinge.

The device can be manufactured from a number of semi-rigid materials.The dimensions of the opposing halves 16 and 18 can be made larger orsmaller to accommodate larger or smaller amounts of hair depending uponhairstyle and quantity of hair protected.

From the forgoing, it is readily apparent that a useful embodiment ofthe present invention has been herein described and illustrated whichfulfills all of the aforestated objectives in a remarkably unexpectedfashion. It is of course understood that such modifications, alterationsand adaptations as may readily occur to the artisan confronted with thisdisclosure are intended within the spirit of this disclosure which islimited only by the scope of the claims appended hereto.

1. A device for holding and protecting a person's hair comprising: a) ashaped body of semi-rigid material placed over a portion of saidparson's bundled hair, b) said body containing at least one spaced prongwithin said body, said prong being forced between strands of hair tosecure said device in said hair, c) multiple cutouts extending aroundsaid cover to create an artistic pattern, and d) a circumferentialflange at one end of said body
 2. The device of claim 1 wherein saidprongs are in the form of opposing combs arranged near saidcircumferential flange, said combs being removably secured in holes insaid body
 3. The device of claim 1 wherein said body is made intoopposing halves, said halves being rotatably connected by a hinge at oneend, and interlocking mambers at another end, that secures said halvesin closed position.
 4. The device of claim 2 wherein said prongs may bedesigned with bright colors to enhance the aesthetic appearance of thedevice.
 5. The device of claim 1 wherein said body has a U shaped prongfor securing said bundled hair, said prong having spaced apart legs,said body having holes in alignment with sid legs and notches at anopposite side of said body for receiving said legs that are inserted insaid holes.
 6. The device of claim 3 wherein said opposing halvesinclude semi-circular flanges that replace said circumferential flange,said flanges devolve into larger semi-circular end portions having smallprotuberances at one end, and a bifurcated portion with centrallylocated openings at another end, said halves being closed by engagingsaid protuberances with said openings and opening said halves bydisengagement of said protuberances with said openings.
 7. The device ofclaim 1 wherein said shaped body is in the form of a cone.